Fantasy Footballers Podcast: Week 1 Start/Sit + TNF Preview, Super Bowl Picks

Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Main Theme:
The episode serves as the ultimate kickoff guide for fantasy managers ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The trio provides expert advice on Week 1 start/sit decisions, reviews critical depth chart news, discusses IR stash strategy, previews Thursday Night Football (Dallas at Philadelphia), and shares their official 2025 Super Bowl picks. Entertaining banter is blended with actionable insights for managers seeking a winning edge.

Table of Contents

• Quick Overview
• IR Stash & Waiver Strategy
  • IR-Eligible Players: Impact & Opportunity
  • Host Rankings: IR Stashes
• News & Depth Chart Analysis
• Thursday Night Football Preview: Dallas at Philadelphia
• Listener Mailbag: Start/Sit and Super Bowl Picks
• Memorable Quotes & Moments
• Timestamps by Segment

Quick Overview

• The crew is amped for the new season, sharing excitement about being back on air just before Week 1 ("It's almost football time. Wednesday, September 3rd, the Fantasy Footballers Podcast..." – Andy, 01:45)
• Emphasis on practical tools and resources available via their site (start/sit tool, weekly rankings, Foot Clan extras).
• Primary episode focuses: maximizing IR spots, approaching waivers with stashed upside, reacting to final depth charts, providing actionable advice for Week 1, and previewing TNF.

IR Stash & Waiver Strategy

Key Point: Early season IR management can provide ‘free’ roster spots for speculative adds. Hosts discuss who is worth stashing, and how return timelines impact incumbent players.

IR-Eligible Players: Impact & Opportunity

• Tajie Spears (Titans, RB): High ankle sprain, on PUP. Opportunity for Tony Pollard early; Spears expected to eat into touches on return.

  • “Pollard gets to be a complete workhorse...they talked all offseason they wanted it to be a 50/50 split, but...it was like, well, you can’t really 50/50 split when one guy is clearly better...” – Jason, 05:58

• Tampa Bay WRs: Jalen McMillan (rookie) and Chris Godwin both on IR.

  • Egbuka seen as a huge early opportunity, but roster management tricky due to the timing of Godwin’s return status each week. Waiver strategy must be nimble.
  • "If you're going to have Godwin ... you better set your lineup ... because once waivers run he's going to be flipped to not out and you're not going to be able to make a move." – Mike, 09:06

• Jalen Coker (Panthers, WR): Major quad injury, out 4–6 weeks. May operate more as a possession receiver, not necessarily hurting X. Leggette’s field-stretching role.

  • “I don't think it will affect Leggett that much... they're going to operate in different areas of the field.” – Jason, 11:11

• Xavier Legette (Panthers, WR): Gets short-term opportunity due to injuries and roster gaps, but hosts remain skeptical of his long-term fantasy value. “Few players I was less impressed with last year…” – Andy, 11:54

• Joe Mixon (IR, RB): Big-name stash in case of early return; uncertainty lingers.

  • “Mixon’s an easy player to draft and stash late…if you want a possible positive angle…they haven’t gone and signed another back.” – Andy, 13:52

• Nick Chubb & Damien Pierce: Prospects for value if Mixon is out long; Chubb seen as higher priority due to role clarity and historical production. “If Chubb is back ... it's very obviously good for fantasy.” – Andy, 14:51

• Brandon Aiyuk (49ers, WR): Hosts see him as a potential stash but cautious on 2025 outlook. Opening creates a shot for Ricky Pearsall.

  • “If Peirsol shows out early...I could see Brandon IUK coming back and Pearsall still being the one over IUK.” – Jason, 16:05

• Christian Watson (Packers, WR): Recovery from ACL means a later-than-hoped return (early November).

  • “I feel like he’s just going to clog your IR.” – Mike, 17:57

• Marshawn Lloyd (Packers, RB): Stash with a clear handcuff role to Josh Jacobs, could earn real value if Jacobs misses time.

Host Rankings: IR Stashes

• Jason: 1. Tajie Spears, 2. Jalen Coker, 3. Marshawn Lloyd, 4. (honorary: Joe Mixon if available)

  • “Of everyone we talked about? ... Tajie Spears is the number one.” – Jason, 19:14

• Mike: In alignment, with emphasis on availability and current roster construction.

Strategic Takeaway: Proactively use IR slots, treat them as bonus lottery tickets—don’t let them go unused early in the season.

News & Depth Chart Analysis

Theme: Week 1 depth chart “overreactions” abound—should fantasy managers adjust?

Key Team/Player Notes:

• Washington RB Room: Bill Crosky listed as RB4, but "we see this every year ... it's just literally like paper honor." – Jason, 22:33

• Broncos RBs: J.K. Dobbins as clear Week 1 starter; R.J. Harvey has leapfrogged to RB2, may offer flex value and big-play upside. “Harvey’s utilization in preseason was great...” – Jason, 25:05

• Jaguars (RB Co-Starter Situation): Tank Bigsby and Travis ETN listed as co-starters; hosts still prefer ETN for initial receiving role, but Bigsby seen as the goal line favorite.

  • “If Tank Bigsby got pass catching work, he’d be the better option...” – Jason, 26:58

• Steelers Backfield: Jalen Warren confirmed as starter by Mike Tomlin; Caleb Johnson may become more relevant deeper into the season.

  • “[Jalen] Warren will be the featured running back for the first at least month.” – Mike, 29:10

• Titans WR Corps: Alec “Epic” Iomannar named WR2, hosts have mild enthusiasm—especially for deeper leagues—with Cam Ward possibly “something special” at QB.

• Other News: Najee Harris healthy, Stefon Diggs to play, Mark Andrews “should get off to a fine start” with no Isaiah Likely (32:14).

Thursday Night Football Preview: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Line: Philadelphia -8.5, O/U 47.5

Storylines & Analysis

• Impact of Micah Parsons Trade: Philly favored by more after Dallas loses their defensive anchor. "Philly 28 implied points, Dallas 19 and a half." – Andy, 33:18

• Outlook for Key Cowboys:

  • Dak Prescott: High long-term confidence, but initial schedule is brutal.
    • “You’re going to need to do one of two things: Have resolve and stay the course or look at other options to start the year...” – Jason, 36:28
    • On tough D/ST matchups: “Giants and Bears might not sound like difficult matchups, but ... the Bears were 32nd last year [best] against QBs.” – Jason, 37:33
  • Javonte Williams: Avoid for now unless absolutely necessary. Path to relevance is through pass work, but game script could hurt his touches.
  • Jake Ferguson: Fade in Week 1 due to Eagles defensive strength.

• Eagles:

  • Start all regulars: AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert.

  • “Just start your Eagles.” – Jason, 39:57

  • Dallas Goedert: “He’s had a 19% target share each of the last four years—that’s a great number.” – Jason, 40:09

Listener Mailbag: Start/Sit and Super Bowl Picks

• Start/Sit Debates:

  • Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Jerome Ford (Flex, PPR):
    • Andy: Tracy, "by a lot." (42:35)
    • Jason: Ford, for pass game involvement.
    • Mike: Wait for clarity; play Ford if confirmed starter.

• Super Bowl Predictions:

  • Andy: Philadelphia Eagles over Baltimore Ravens
  • Jason: Baltimore Ravens over Green Bay Packers
  • Mike: Denver Broncos over Detroit Lions
  • Context: "Top two teams by odds" are Philly & Baltimore—Mike deliberately picks a contrarian outcome (45:00-45:54)

• RB Start Confidence (Amarion Hampton):

  • “You took him to be a starter and I don't think I would get cute.” – Mike, 46:54

• Traditions & Other Questions:

  • Football Sunday rituals: Mostly lineup-related; running joke about Mike not wearing pants (47:44)
  • Chicago Bears backfield behind Swift: Lean Kyle Manungai, though it may be a mix (53:16)
  • Swift’s value: Hosts argue he’s perpetually undervalued; consensus ranks outside the top 24 despite consistent RB2 production (54:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you're going to have Godwin ... you better set your lineup ... because once waivers run he's going to be flipped to not out and you're not going to be able to make a move.” – Mike, 09:06
• “You're getting a free player [with IR stashes] ... take your bottom guy, drop them, secure upside.” – Jason, 18:18
• “Epic [Iomannar] is the primary wide receiver two ... if he’s good. That’s the question.” – Jason, 30:12
• “You’re going to need to do one of two things: Have resolve and stay the course or look at other options to start the year…” – Jason, 36:28
• “Just start your Eagles.” – Jason, 39:57

Memorable Banter:

• Mike’s extended riff on “bonus” perks and the group riffing on inside jokes.
• Explosive laughter at depth chart irrelevancy: “It's just literally like paper honor.” – Jason, 22:33
• Recurring nod to the IR as “free roster insurance” and the perils of holding big-name but far-off returns.

Timestamps by Segment

• 01:39 – Show open; hosts’ excitement for Week 1
• 04:42 – Waiver/IR segment begins ("Backup Options")
• 05:58 – In-depth IR stash analysis: Tajie Spears, Godwin, McMillan, Leggette, Mixon, Chubb, Aiyuk, Watson, Lloyd
• 19:14 – Host rankings for top IR stashes
• 21:35 – News and notes: depth chart shenanigans and reactions
• 33:08 – Thursday Night Football preview: Cowboys at Eagles, matchup analysis
• 41:49 – Listener mailbag: Start/sit, Super Bowl picks, traditions, rookie WR decisions
• 54:04 – DeAndre Swift discussion and Bears backfield
• 55:46 – Closing mailbag questions: final bench cut decisions

Bottom Line:
This episode is the essential playbook for locking in last-minute IR stashes, navigating post-draft waivers, and making sharp Week 1 start/sit calls. With detailed depth chart observation, the latest injury strategy, and the Fantasy Footballers’ signature blend of humor and expertise, listeners get a holistic primer for launching their 2025 fantasy campaign.